Title: The Protector (3/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.

Roleplays:

If you're not into RPing, feel free to skip this part.

Ourjellicle (o u r j e l l i c l e s . p r o b o a r d s 5 1 . c o m ). is a normal Cats RP set after the Jellicle Ball. Currently, Macavity has taken over the junkyard, but the Jellicles escaped safely. They're enlisting the help of a crew of pirates, though, to reclaim their yard… but that decision may cause more pain than pleasure.

One of These Nights (w w w . s 8 . c r e a t e p h p b b . c o m / o n e o f t h e s e n I g h t / I n d e x . p h p ? m f o r u m (equal sign) o n e o f t h e s e n I g h t) is an AU RP where the Jellicles are human members of a band (named Jellicle). Tugger (taken) is the lead singer, with Bombalurina (taken), Alonzo, and Plato (taken) as other members, and the rest of the Jellicles helping out as friends, stage hands, special effects, etc. Munkustrap (taken by me) is the manager of the band, and his father, Deuteronomy, is a huge music mogul. Macavity (taken) leads the rival band, the Depraved. Most of the characters are still available, though. If you're interested, come on by!

Cats does not belong to me. Simbol does. He's shpiffy.

The Protector

"When's Daddy coming home?" Tumblebrutus nudged Alonzo's paw. "Huh? When's Daddy coming home?"

"Later," Alonzo said, moving his paw. He was sitting on a car, staring at the entrance to the junkyard.

Tumble was quiet for a few minutes, before he leaned forward and nudged Alonzo's paw again. "Is it later yet?"

"No."

"When's Daddy coming home?"

"Shut up, Tumble! I don't know!" Alonzo growled at his brother, and the kitten backed off, his back arched, tail puffed out, and eyes wide in fright. Alonzo sighed and rubbed his face. "Look… I'm sorry. Come here." He held out his paws, and Tumble crept forward to cuddle with the older tom. "I don't know when Dad's coming home. Later. That's all I know, okay?" He rubbed Tumble's ears. "Until then, Admetus is our dad."

"Until Poppa gets better?" Tumble nuzzled Alonzo's chest. "Until Poppa wakes up?"

"Yes, until Poppa wakes up, and then we listen to him, even Admetus." Alonzo stroked Tumble's soft fur and sighed, turning his eyes back to the entrance to the yard. He was worried about his dad, worried about his brothers. It had been a day and a half already. Admetus was sitting with Skimble and Gus, watching over them. Neither of the older toms had woken up yet. Munkustrap was patrolling the yard, pacing back and forth in front of the gate before dashing off somewhere else. He hissed at anything that snuck up on him, even if it was just a crisps bag. Alonzo closed his eyes and shook his head. What was taking his dad so long? Had he gotten in trouble?

"Looky!" Tumble tugged on Alonzo's fur and pointed toward the junkyard gate. "Looky, looky, looky!"

Alonzo got to his feet, looking at where Tumble was pointing. There was a cat running into the yard, a patched tom… it wasn't Simbol, but it was Plato. "Plato!" He shook Tumble off and ran toward his brother. "Plato!"

Munkustrap came running from somewhere in the yard. "Plato?"

Alonzo crashed into Plato, hugging the other tom tightly. Plato clung to him in return. "Lonz! Alonzo! You're okay… thank the Everlasting Cat, you're okay…!" He pulled away to look at Alonzo's face, laughing and sobbing. "They said they killed you… the Monniks… they said they killed you…" He clutched Alonzo close again.

Alonzo stroked his paw over Plato's fur, feeling the stickiness of drying blood. "What happened?" he asked. "What happened to you? I saw the Monniks take you away… you and Cattivo… then Dad went after you…"

"Sit down," Munkustrap said. He leaned forward and began to groom Plato's fur, washing the blood away. "How bad are you hurt?"

"Just scratches. I'll be fine." Plato curled up, letting Munkustrap clean the cuts on his back.

"Plato, what happened?" Alonzo asked again, lying beside his brother.

Plato turned his brown eyes up to Munkustrap and Alonzo, tears welling up in them again. "Cattivo… Dad…"

"Start at the beginning," Munkustrap murmured, purring as he washed Plato, trying to calm the younger cat.

Plato sighed and closed his eyes, setting his head on his paws. "The Monniks took us, Cattivo and me. They kept shoving us and kicking us if we stopped or tried to run away. They took us over the bridge and into their territory. We were lead all over the place, and they kept doubling back and going in circles. I know I was lost by the end... I think Cattivo was too. They took us to a building that smelled like fire and smoke… and Leviticus was there. He was sitting on a big chair, and he looked even larger than Deuteronomy! And Macavity was there too… he was sitting on the arm of the chair. He didn't say anything, but he watched us…

Short chapter, right? I know, I know, I'm sorry...